We’re not sure about you, but we’ve been hanging for this year’s Easter long weekend for a while now, a four-day sabbath filled with infinite potential to forget our troubles and chill. And while we’re all for a spontaneous road trip or a plan-free sojourn not too far from home, sometimes having a plan is the best way to ensure optimal rest and a refreshing break away from your natural surrounds.

To help you with the immense task of choosing a destination amongst a vast array of our country’s natural gems, we’ve broken it down into six of our favourite destinations – no passport required.

Known for its clean barrels – a surfer’s ideal scenario – Burleigh Heads sits in between Surfers Paradise and North Coolangatta, a popular pit-stop on many a north coast road trip that is bordered by sky-high Norfolk pines. If you’re looking for a warmer climate, some serious salt therapy and up-and-coming eateries, this is the spot for you.

Wategos Beach, NSW

Recently finding fame thanks to Australia’s social media influencers, Wategos Beach (pictured top) sits on the tip of Byron Bay. A common holiday metropolis with a plethora of services at your disposable. Instagram-worthy brunch spots, beauty parlours, night venues, and let us not forget Rae’s on Wategos, a boutique retreat with water views is all there for you to soak in. If you’re on a budget, fear not, there are plenty of Airbnb rentals available.

Home to fine wine and good food, this rural town will have you indulging in the pleasures often found in a city – minus the busy streets and skyscrapers. A coast-meets-country getaway, the town has become a go-to destination for Sydney’s influential folk, beckoning big profiles, including Rick Stein at Bannisters, and Collette Dinnigan’s beautifully curated holiday home, the Surf & Stables, available on Airbnb. And if you’re in the mood for beach, there are many secluded spots bordered by forest just a shuffle away.

For a small township, McLaren Vale will leave a lasting impression, brimming with world-renowned vineyards, quality cheese, wine, and vintage architecture that sits among hillside views and fresh air. Just picture sipping on a quality pinot noir while devouring a long read in your loungewear. Ideal? We think so. This country escape sits just inwards of the coast, so that long stroll across the beach is also available to you.

A post shared by Tash (@thefashionsista) on Dec 16, 2016 at 8:41pm PST

If going rural isn’t your cup of tea and you’re instead looking for a little adventure, Melbourne serves as a bustling melting pot for coffee, art, shopping and culture. If you don’t want to spend your precious few days rushing from spot to spot, we suggest planting yourself in Fitzroy, home to the infamous Brunswick Street, a burrow that sits just outside Melbourne’s business district and is dotted with top-notch cafes, dinner eateries, vintage finds and smaller clothing boutiques, and punctuated with bold graffiti, making you feel like you’re in the heart of a London art district.

More commonly dubbed “Freo” by locals, the port city is known for its maritime historical remnants left by the British Colony. Among the history-filled sandstone structures, a fresh art-and-food scene is brewing quickly with local bakeries, breweries and edgy interior stores finding their feet and beckoning swarms of international tourists to the town by giving them both an educational and tasty experience.

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Nicole is a Sydney based writer, who’s previously written for Harper’s Bazaar and Elle Australia. She has mused about everything from the world of haute couture, the Sydney music scene and newly founded start-ups.